Gestumblindi (2020)
Solo Trumpet
Duration: 2 minutes | Composed: 2020 | Commissioned by the Canberra Symphony Orchestra | World Premiere: 2020 by Justin Lingard | Recording: Coming Soon.
Gestumblindi was a character in Norse mythology, best known for an
exquisite contest of wisdom that took place between himself (though Odin
was in fact disguised as him) and King Heidrek. Gestumblindi presented a
series of riddles which, due to their ingenuity, eventually exposed him as
Odin. The idea of creating a piece for a solo melodic instrument inspired by
a riddle was a notion I was immediately drawn to. While there are
many riddles to take inspiration from in the Gestumblindi-Heidrek
exchange, the second last in the series evoked the most interesting visuals for
me, as this was the first I'd ever heard of Odin's eight-legged horse, Sleipnir.
“Who are the twain [two] that on
ten feet run? three eyes they have,
but only one tail.
Aright guess now this riddle,
Heithrek!”
“Good is thy riddle, Gestumblindi,
and guessed it is:
that is Óthin riding on Sleipnir.”
This work was commissioned as part of the Canberra Symphony Orchestra's
Australian Mini Series Project.
